Automatically-regulated feeder for steam-boilers.



No. 764,988. PATENTED JULY 12, 1904. E. L. DEL CASTILLO. AUTOMATIGALLYRBGULATED FEEDER FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21, 1903,

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/TNESSES:

INVENTOH A TTOENE Y8 No. 764,988. PATENTED JULY 12, 1904. E. L. DELCASTILLO. AUTOMATICALLY REGULATED FEEDER FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Quin P lllllllllllllllllllllll f ail-i 7f j IAIMMIJ a i F Ig Az-Ig/TNESSES: INVENTOI? 5 Z 727('fa6 LOZ 72aZ zkZfaaZzZ/a UNITED STATESPatented July 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATICALLY REGULATED FEEDER FOR STEAM-BOILERS SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 764,988, dated July 12, 1904:.

Application filed October 21, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENRIQUE LOINAZ DEL CASTILLO, a citizen of theRepublic of Cuba, and a resident of Havana, Cuba, have invented a newand Improved Automatically-Regulated Water-Feeder for Steam-Boilers, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has for its object to provide novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts for a water-feeding apparatusthat positively and exactly controls the introduction of water into asteam-boiler so as to maintain the level of water therein 'at apredetermined height automatically.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and indicated in the appendedclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam-boiler broken away at thewater-line therein and a sectional side view of the improved waterfcedregulator applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged partly-sectional viewtaken substantially on the lines 2 2 in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3 is apartly-sectional side view of the apparatus substantially on the line 33 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a partly-sectional plan view substantially onthe line 4 4' in Fig. 3.

In the drawings that represent the construction and application of theinvention, A indicates a steam-boiler of the high-pressure verticaltype, and B a water-supply tank from which water is to be fed into theboiler and regulated in the quantity supplied thereto by means of thenovel mechanism that constitutes the invention and which consists of thefollowing details:

An outlet branch pipe 5 is secured upon the lower portion of the tankside wall and covers an opening therein, so as to receive water underpressure from the tank B, and in said outlet branch pipe a check-valve 6is introduced which prevents back pressure, though this valve is not anindispensable feature of the invention.

A valve-casing 7 is connected with the outer i Serial No. 177,857. (Nomodel.)

end of the branch pipe by an engagement of one end thereof with theupper end of an upturned end portion 5 of the branch pipe 5. The uprightcasing 7 is provided with two similar valve-seats a a, that arerespectively located at the upper and lower ends of said valve-casing. Avalve-rod 8 is held centrally in the casing 7 and extends down through asuitable packing-box b on the lower side of the branch pipe at itsupturned portion 5, the lower portion of the valve-rod extending fromthe packing-box a suflicient distance to permit a coupled engagementofthe extremity with an actuating device that will be hereinafterdescribed.

Upon the valve-rod 8, within the valve-casing 7, two united disk valves9 9 are mounted and secured, which are suitably spaced apart and arearranged for engagement with a respective valve-seat a a, that will beeffected when the valve-rod is reciprocated a degree limited by thealternate closure of the valves upon said valve-seats and by the throwof an actuating-cam that will be hereinafter described.

Connected with the upper end of the valvecasing 7 is the lower end of asteam-supply pipe 10, which extends to tap the upper portion of thesteam-boiler A, and in the steamsupply pipe a valve 1O is introduced forcontrol or arrest of steam that passes from the boiler into thevalve-casing 7 when the apparatus is to be stopped or removed. Betweenthe ends of the valve-casing 7 an outlet branch 7 a is formed, which isconnected to one end of the tubular water conduit 11, which is attachedhorizontally to the boiler at the desired water-level and may extendaround or partly around the shell of the boiler A in contact therewithto receive heat which pervades the boiler-shell when in service. At theremaining end of the water-conduit 11 a depending elbow 11 is formed orsecured, which is connected with the upper end of a valve-casing 12.

Upon a valve-stem c, that is held to reciprocate longitudinally andcentrally in the valve-casing 12, a disk check-valve (Z is mounted andadapted to seat upon the annular valveseat 6, formed within the casingat a point near the upper support for the valve-stem, the valve-beingnormally held closed by steampressure on the water contained in theboiler. From the lower end of the valve-casing 12 a feed-water pipe 12extends toward the center of the bottom of the boiler and is therewithconnected for the introduction of feedwater by means of the lateralextension 12 of said feed-pipe, and in the latter a stopvalve 13 ispreferably introduced for arresting the influx of water when it isdesired to stop or to remove the apparatus.

Upon a suitable support that is near to and beneath the outlet branchpipe 6 preferably an open bracket-frame 14 is affixed, and, as shown, arock-arm f, that is extended from the rock-shaft g, which is held torock by a journaled engagement of its ends with the upper spaced membersof the bracket-frame, is by its extended end loosely connected to thelower end of the valve-rod 8, said end being furnished with a T-head lb,that works in a slot it, formed laterally and longitudinally in theextended end portion of the rock-armf.

An auxiliary arm Z is pivoted by one end 2' on the frame 14 and extendsbeneath the rockarm f, with which it is loosely connected by a link Kc,and from the auxiliary arm Z a retracting-spring m extends toward a limba on the bracket-frame to which the lower end of the spring is secured,so that the tension of the spring is exerted to depress the auxiliaryarm. On a counter-shaft 0, that is journaled at its ends transverselyupon the bracketframe 14 below the auxiliary arm 2', a camblock 0 issecured, that is engaged at its working edge with the periphery of aroller 0 which is loosely mounted upon a journal-stud 0 that projectslaterally from the auxiliary arm 1'.

A spur-gear p is mounted upon and secured to the transversecounter-shaft 0 and meshes with a pinion 9", that is secured upon thedriven shaft 9*, held to rotate on the frame 14 below the counter-shaft0. The driven shaft 7" extends at one side of the bracket-frame 14:, anda pulley s is mounted upon and secured to this extended end of the shaftfor engagement therewith of a driving-belt (not shown) that is to beconnected to an engine or to any suitable means for transmittingrotarymotion' to the driven shaft 9.

, Operation: Before applying heat to the boiler water is introduced intoit by merely raising the rock-arm f. As the water-tank B is elevatedabove the water-line to bemaintained in the boiler A, it will be evidentthat if the stop-valve 13 is opened and the rockarms f and Z are raised,thereby adjusting the cam-block 0, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower valve 9is raised from the valve-seat a and a continuous passage is afforded forwater to flow from the tank B into the boiler A, thus permitting theboiler to be supplied with water to a proper height therein by gravity,it

being understood that the usual means for indicating the height ofwater. such as a glass water-gage, has been provided, this detail beingomitted from the drawings.

When in motion, assuming that steam has been generated in the boiler Aby the application of heat thereto, the pressure of steam upon the waterin the boiler Will close the check-valve (Z upon its seat 6, and thusarrest the flow of water into the boiler by gravity. To compensate forthe evaporation of water for generation of steam in the boiler and tomaintain into it a constant water-level, a quantity of water equal tothat evaporated is fed therein through the pipe 11 by gravity, and saidfeed of water is automatically controlled by the improved apparatus, asfollows: Motion being communicated to the cam-block 0 by rotation of thepulleys, this will alternately seat and unseat the valves 9 9 bylowering and raising the valve-rod 8. When by the downward movement ofsaid rod the valve 9 is removed from the seat a, steam coming throughthe valve 9, that now will be opened, will enter the valve-casing 7 andalso pass through the water-conduit 11 into the valvecasing 12. Thepressure of steam thus produced on the upper surface of the disk valve(Z will at least equal that of the pressure of water on the lowersurface of said valve-disk, and this will force the valve (Z to drop byits gravity,thus opening a passage for water from the conduit 11 toenter the boiler at the lower end 12 of the feed-pipe 12. The nextmovement upward of the valve-rod 8, as shown in Fig. 1, will change theposition of the valves 9 and 9, so as to unseat the latter and seat theformer, and the feed of water into the boiler will instantly cease, dueto the pressure existing inside the boiler causing the closure of thedisk check-valve (Z. At the same time pressure disappearing at thepipe-conduit 11 by its being now incommunicated to the boiler throughclosure of valves 9 and (Z the water from the tank will flow by gravityinto said conduit 11 until it is refilled, thus providing a quantity ofwater in the horizontal conduit 11 equal to that which said conduit hasimmediately before supplied to the boiler during the preceding downwardmovement of the valve-rod 8. The next movement downward of the valve-rod8 transmitted by the rotary motion of shaft 0 and earn 0' is alreadydescribed. By it the valve 9 will be unseated, allowing the passage ofsteam from the boiler into the conduit 11, while valve 9 coming downupon its seat cuts off communication of said conduit to the tank or pipesupply'of water. Thus the steam coming through valve 9 into conduit 11forces down and opens valve (Z,

which was closed by the pressure existing in the boiler, and through itthe latter is fed from conduit 11 till both boiler and conduit have thesame level of water. Thus it is seen that a rotary motion being appliedto a cam Ward movement of the rod the already-filled conduit 11 iscommunicated with the boiler through the steam valve 9 and thewatervalve 9 to supply by gravity to the boiler the amount of waterevaporated. The intervals of these periodical vertical movements of thevalve-rod 8 may be fixed from no less than half a minute to one minuteor time most suitable to special use. It is obvious that theseperiodical movements that change the positions of valves 9 and 9 willwithout any regulating interference control the introduction of waterinto the boiler in a positive, continuous, and

automatic manner.

The amount of water to be supplied to the boiler will influence thegeneral dimensions of the apparatus to be installed; but no regulationwill be needed afterward for the speed of the rotary movement of cam 0whether a large or a small amount of water is consumed. The reason ofthis great advantage is that the feeding-conduit 11 being a horizontalchamber located at the desired height of water level will naturallycease fiowing into the boiler as soon as water reaches the same level onboth, whether their intermittent communication continues or not. Thusthere is no possibility of the water in the boiler against the laws ofgravity passing over the height of conduit 11, which is located at thedesired height of level, and it will come under said level just the baremeas ure of the Water evaporated during the interval of movement of thevalverodfor instance, one'half a minutewhile it cuts off communicationwith the boiler of conduit 11 to establish it with the tank or pipesupply to be refilled by the income of the same amount of water that theboiler was previously fed from said conduit. The water before reachingthe boiler will be heated by the liquid always existing in conduit 11,besides said conduit being adapted, preferably, as a belt-pipe to theboiler, and thus maintained heated.

The check-valve 6 is not indispensable; but its presence is preferred toprevent any slight escape of steam during the motion of valves 9 and 9.The mechanism for producing the periodical vertical movement of thevalve-rod 8 could be changed to an eccentric wheel or other suitablesystem; but the one employed in this description is preferred.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a water feeding and controlling apparatus for asteam-boiler, the combination with a boiler, and a water-supply, of awater-feeding conduit connected at its ends to the watersupply and tothe boiler, a check-valve in the water-feeding conduit, a steam-supplypipe,

a valve-casing between the water-feeding conduit and said steam-supplypipe, a valve-rod adapted to reciprocate in said valve-casing, twospaced valves mounted on the valve-rod and respectively controlling theentrance of steam and water into said valve-casing, and means toreciprocate the valve-rod and valves.

2. In awater feeding and controlling apparatus for a steam-boiler, thecombination with a boiler, a water-supply, a water-feeding conduitconnected by one end to the water-supply and at the other end to thelower portion of the boiler, and a check-valve in the conduit, above itsdischarging end, of a steamsupply pipe, a valve-casing connected at oneend to the steam-supply pipe and at the other end to the water-conduit,a valve-rod working in and extended at one end outside of thevalvecasing, two spaced valves on the rod, adapted respectively to closeand open the entrance for steam and water into the casing, and meansconnected with the extended end of the valverod, for its reciprocationat a predetermined speed. s

3. In a water feeding and controlling apparatus for a steam-boiler, thecombination with a boiler, and a water-supply tank, of a Waterfeedingconduit disposed horizontally at the side of the boiler, a valvecasinglaterally mounted on one end of the water-feeding conduit, asteam-supply pipe extended from the steam-space in the boiler to engagethe upper end of the valve-casing, a valve-rod held to reciprocatevertically in said valve-casing, the lower end of said rod having aloose engagement with a rock-arm, means for positively rocking said arm,two valves spaced apart on the valve-rod and adapted by reciprocation ofthe rod to alternately open and close the inlets for steam and waterinto the valve-casing, a check-valve at the opposite end of thewaterfeeding conduit, and a water-feeding pipe extended from saidcheck-valve and tapping the lower portion of the water-space in theboiler.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of awater-feeding conduit, a valve-casing having a lateral outlet thatreceives an end of the conduit, a steam-supply pipe tapping one end ofthe valve-casing, a water-supply pipe secured in the other end of saidcasing, a valve-rod held to reciprocate longitudinally of thevalvecasing, two spaced valves on said rod, adapted for alternatelyopening and closing the inlets for water and steam into the ends of thevalvecasing, and a power-actuated device, adapted to reciprocate thevalve-rod.

5. In a device of the character described, comprising in part asteam-controlling valve, a water-controlling valve, and a valve-rodwhereon said valves are mounted to open and close alternately, thevalve-actuating mechanism, consisting of a supported frame, a mainrock-arm rockably mounted on the frame and pivoted by one end upon thependent end of the valve-rod, an auxiliary rock-arm, pivoted by one endon the frame and at the other end upon one end of a link that at itsopposite end is pivoted upon the main rock-arm, a retractable springextended between the auxiliary rock-arm and a projection from the frame,a cam carried by a shaft journaled on the frame, said cam having contactwith the. auxiliary arm, to rock it against stress of the spring, IOspeed-controlling gearing earned by shafts journaled on the frame andadapted to transmit motion to the cam, and means to rotate the gearing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in-thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ENRIQUE LOINAZ DEL CASTILLO.

Witnesses: I

WM. P. PATTON; JNO. M. BITTER.

